Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 359 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
2. 2.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
3. 3.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the topic statement (c) the timekeeper (d) the last speech
4. 4.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
5. 5.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
8. 8.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
9. 9.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) defines the key words
10. 10.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) is for the motion
12. 12.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
13. 13.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
14. 14.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the judges (c) the proposition (d) the audience
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) must prove the motion
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
21. 21.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
23. 23.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
24. 24.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) defines the key words
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
27. 27.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
28. 28.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) must disprove the motion
32. 32.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the opposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
35. 35.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This House…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Dear diary…”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes every school needs a garden.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False

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